Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival
Photo Courtesy of Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival
Sardine-like crowds. Searing heat. Endless concession lines. The kids sure do look like they’re having a ball at TomorrowWorld and Lollapalooza, don’t they? If you hear the sarcasm in that last sentence, you might be one of those music fans who still appreciates tapping his toes but would rather not do it while being scrunched between 90,000 others. If that’s the case, you’ll want to pack your bags for one of these upcoming festivals that believes in delivering the harmonies — just not at the expense of being caught in a stampede over a free shirt.
Montreal International Jazz Festival, June 26-July 5
What To Know
Arguably the most vital annual jazz event in the world, this Montreal institution has spotlighted just about every important name in the genre at some time or another. The 36th installment promises to keep the tradition going with a marquee-bursting roster of acts like Joshua Redman, Lucinda Williams, Erykah Badu and Steve Miller. But beyond delivering the household names, the festival does a splendid job of introducing ears to new voices, too. We still can’t thank organizers enough for acquainting us to New Zealand’s Hollie Smith last year.
Where To Stay
It doesn’t matter if you’re coming in from a massive outdoor show at Place des Festivals or a more intimate session at L’Astral, you’ll feel right at home in the urban, loft-like air of Forbes Travel Guide Recommended Hotel Le Crystal.
Chambers Concert at The Betsy, Photo Courtesy of The Betsy Hotel
Miami Summer Music Festival, Now-August 2
What To Know
We admire the Miami Summer Music Festival for giving pre-professional artists a literal and metaphoric stage to sharpen their crafts. Through theatrical productions (Hansel and Gretel) and orchestral concerts this year, aspiring thespians and musicians will have the chance to perform in front of live audiences in a respected venue (Barry University’s Shepard & Ruth K. Broad Performing Arts Center). The Betsy — South Beach, a Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel, is getting in on the action with a biweekly chamber music program (July 8 through 27) on site.
Where To Stay
In addition to being a curator of the arts, The Betsy is also a connoisseur of all things beach extravagant. With a roof-deck solarium, walnut hardwood floors in the rooms, chef Laurent Tourondel’s BLT Steak and a host of other amenities within reach, a stay here makes everyone feel like a Grammy-winning performer.
Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival, July 17-18
What To Know
Being at Norfolk, Virginia’s Town Point Park on a clear Saturday afternoon is probably the closest man can get to bliss in the heart of a big city. It’s no wonder then that the venue’s calendar is generally filled with events through the summer. That said, other weekends serve as mere opening acts for the Norfolk Waterfront Jazz Festival, a two-day cavalcade of sexy crooning and mellow horn playing that’s now in its 33rd year. With an impressive lineup that includes names like Richard Elliot, Earl Klugh and Musiq Soulchild, though, NWJF struts with the grace of a festival half its age.
Where To Stay
We appreciate that the Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel has complimentary Wi-Fi and a club lounge, but by far the biggest draw of the property to us is its location. Just a few blocks from downtown Norfolk (and mere minutes from Town Point Park), the hotel couldn’t be any more convenient if it tried.
Moab Music Festival, September 3-14
What To Know
You may have been to some fine musical venues in your lifetime, but until you’ve had sandstone walls serve as your acoustics, you haven’t lived. Making the most of its natural surroundings, the Moab Music Festival proudly sets up shop in various outdoor and indoor venues in Utah’s Colorado Plateau for a multi-day fest of piano concerts, family shows and musical hikes. But while names like Bela Fleck stand out on this year’s calendar, truthfully speaking, it’s the red-rock cliffs surrounding the stages that are the real stars.
Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa, Photo Courtesy of Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa
Where To Stay
The Four-Star Sorrel River Ranch Resort & Spa may be best known for its natural charm, but this year it’s decided to show off its musical chops by hosting two Moab Music Festival events, MMF Virtuosi (September 11) and the Clarice Assad Quartet (September 12). Nothing says Old West-inspired elegance quite like Brazilian jazz under the stars.
Bangkok’s International Festival of Dance & Music, September 11-October 18
What To Know
The arts play an integral role in Thai culture, which might explain why this festival has grown from a six-performance show to a splashy five-week happening with more than 1,000 participants in just 17 years. To help celebrate 2015’s excitement, the festival has unveiled a globe-spanning itinerary that consists of Brazilian dance (Deborah Colker Dance Company’s “Mix”), Chinese opera (Grand Chinese Opera’s The Butterfly Lovers), Russian ballet (the Novosibirsk Ballet Theatre’s Swan Lake), American pop (“The Fame Monster” Lady Gaga tribute concert) and much more.
Where To Stay
Just a 15-minute drive from all the festival excitement at Thailand Cultural Centre is Anantara Siam Bangkok Hotel, a 354-room oasis in the heart of Bangkok’s bustle. While you’ll be awed by the international performances at the fest, you’ll find the meals at Spice Market, treatments at Anantara Spa and overall warmth of the hotel staff to be singularly Thai experiences.
